Category Archives: Beauty Pageants

Filipino TV host and actor Paolo Ballesteros looks like he’s on a mission to impersonate the beautiful queens of the 63rd Miss Universe pageant! He already posted on his instagram account a make-up transformation of Miss Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa and has since then did four more with Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell, Miss Colombia and the newest Miss Universe Paulina Vega, Miss USA Nia Sanchez and the latest was Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha!

as Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega

as Miss USA 2014 and Miss Universe 2014 1st runner up Nia Sanchez

as Miss Universe 2014 2nd runner up Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha

as Miss Universe 2014 4th runner up Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell

Miss Universe Philippines 2014 Mary Jean Lastimosa (top 10)

Pretty neat make-up transformation yeah? Now all we need is Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen (3rd runner up) to complete the 5 top finishers!

Here’s the rest of Binibining Pilipinas 2015 official swimsuit glam shots of candidates number 18-34 shot by famed photographer Raymond Saldaña. Now, for this batch – the best photo goes to candidate number 34! Teresita Marquez or better known as WynWyn Marquez is totally working it here – and she looked absolutely amazing! That long body, bone structure and all – gosh crown her already!

I totally loved this year’s edition of Binibining Pilipinas official glam shot! This was like Miss Universe glam shot quality! I loved the flowery -summerish swimsuits by the candidates and most of them looks every inch of a beauty queen already! For this batch, my best glam shot goes to Brenna Cassandra Gamboa (#17) – I’m not just sure about the missing hands but overall, girl’s working it!

The portraits of the final (hopefully) official candidates of this year’s Binibining Pilipinas pageant are now up via the pagean’tofficial website.

From here on, the girls will battle it out for the five crowns at stake in this year’s edition. Amongst the photos below, I’m keeping my eye on number 10, 11, 12, 19, 25, 28 and 34 – all perceived by pageant fans and pundits to be the front-runners from this batch.

Much has been said about the recently held Miss Universe pageant and how our rep Miss Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa continued the semi-finalist streak of the Philippines for five consecutive years now. I still remember how the Philippines experienced a ten-year Miss Universe drought from the year 2000 with Nina Ricci Alagao up to Bianca Manalo’s Bahamas stint in 2009. The following year, Venus Raj paved the way for the Philippine delegates to take center stage in the Miss Universe pageant yet again with Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon and Ariella Ariella following her footsteps in the succeeding years – all with runners-up finish.

This year’s pageant is definitely one of the toughest editions to judge and one of the strongest batches to date (along with 2008 and 2010). It’s no surprise that anyone from the Top 15 semifinalists could easily win the title. With MJ failing to advance into the Top 5, most of us (Pinoy pageant fans and pundits) were disappointed of course (including moi) and has probably blamed her horrendous evening gown (which I did and that’s just for me when I said that BPCI’s choice of evening gown was horrendous). And since what’s done is done, we have to remember that what MJ accomplished is no mean feat. Guys, she just bested 78 other ladies in the competition and she made every pinoy pageant fans and pundits extremely proud of her on that stage. With that being said, I just want to express my heartfelt gratitude and respect to the girl who not only showed the world how beautiful and gracious Filipinas are but also for her sheer determination that is truly awe-inspiring.

Special Awards
Best in National Costume: Indonesia – Elvira Devinamira

Indonesia’s costume comes from Central Java and depicts the UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Borobudur Temple. The temple was built with the concept of promoting and establishing serene spiritual living just like the purpose of becoming the Miss Universe.

*Miss Philippines MJ Lastimosa failed to advance into the Top 5 and I honestly blame her horrendous white evening gown! She was confident and sassy on stage and that gown totally destroyed her chances!!!!

lintek na Barraza…

This is like the worst thing ever to happen for every beki in the Philippines ATM. Ugh. Bwiset!

why, oh, why – bakit wala sa top 5 si mj????!!!!

I was hoping that USA or Jamaica would clinch the title but yeah… Colombia obviously was poised /”prepared” to win it all albeit the booing public.

Heya guys! It’s prediction time and I am yet again sharing my very own top 15, winners and some thoughts about the coming finals this Sunday of the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant!

Special Awards:

There were only five ladies chosen to vie for the Best in National Costume Award which will ultimately be decided by the public via twitter – [To vote for the winner, tweet your favorite costume using both #MissUniverse and one of the finalists now up until the pageant on Sunday!!] I’d say it’s a close match between Miss Indonesia and Miss Argentina based on their costumes but I have to give it to Argentina – hands down! (you can still vote! see rules HERE)

Miss Argentina Valentina Ferrer

Argentina’s costume represents one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Iguazú Falls. The impressive gown is covered with glossy stones that resemble Iguazú Falls rocks and water.

As for Miss Congeniality – it’s anybody’s ball game really but I have a feeling that it’d go for a certain Asian delegate ^_^

So let me now reveal my Top 15-6

15. France – Camille Cerf

14. Serbia – Andjelka Tomasevic

13. Czech Republic – Ana Zubashvili

12. Australia – Tegan Martin

11. Aruba – Digene Zimmerman

10. Ukraine – Diana Harkusha

9. Venezuela – Migbelis Castellanos

6. Russia – Yulia Alipova

8. Spain – Desire Cordero

7. Argentina – Valentina Ferrer

And My Top Five Are…

4th Runner-up: The last three years saw Brazilian delegates sailing through the Top 5 and not quite getting the crown. This year, they sent another strong delegate in the name of Melissa Gurgel – the girl could definitely make it again but I don’t think she’d be able to place higher than the rest of the Top 5.

4th Runner up – Brazil – Melissa Gurgel

3rd Runner-up: She was a favorite since she won her national pageant and she’s got the Latin support of the host city. She’s got a body to die for, an exquisite evening gown but her presentation doesn’t give me a vibe of a winner – at least not at the preliminary so she’s got to settle for a 3rd runner-up finish. Take your place, Paulina Vega – Miss Colombia!

3rd Runner up – Colombia – Paulina Vega

2nd Runner-up: Kaci Fennell haircut may have been the main reason why she’d effortlessly stood out from the sea of beautiful ladies during the preliminary competition. The girl is edgy, modelesque and quite articulate if you’ll base it on her web interview. Now her being edgy could also go against her – she could win it all or settle for 3rd place. There you go, Miss Jamaica!

2nd Runner up – Jamaica – Kaci Fennell

1st Runner-up: If Nia Sanchez went on to compete during the 2012 Miss Universe pageant, she could very well win it in Vegas the way her compatriot Olivia Culpo snatched the title from then favorite Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon. But now, it’s the 63rd edition of the pageant and is again being held in the U S of A. Will it be a repeat of 2012? Possibly yes – a repeat of the last two standing but another crown for a Miss USA? Very unlikely. She’s got to settle for a runner-up finish this time.

1st Runner up – USA – Nia Sanchez

Now my final pick to win the 63rd Miss Universe pageant is none other than Miss Philippines, Mary Jean Lastimosa. It’s been more than four decades since the Philippines has won its last title via Margarita Moran who won the title during the 1973 edition held Greece. And from the last four years, the Philippine delegates almost won the crown but something seemed to hinder their utmost desire to clinch the title. Janine Tugonon came very close when she finishes second to Olivia Culpo in 2012 but it’s still an elusive pursuit for the Philippine queens until now.

Miss Philippines MJ Lastimosa with the new crown from Diamonds International Corporation (DIC)

With MJ Lastimosa battling it out with 87 other delegates, its looks like things are heading her way and with her smooth performance all throughout the pageant – she may very well be declared the brightest star in the universe.

Mark your calendars for the 63rd Annual #MissUniverse Pageant LIVE Sunday, January 25th at 8/7c on @NBC. All 88 contestants will compete for the @DIC Crown. Don’t miss it!

Here’s Miss Universe Philippines Mary-Jean Lastmosa looking so regal and charming at tonight’s 63rd Miss Universe Preliminary Competition. She did so well and I couldn’t be any happier with her performance!!!

The all-important preliminary competition which will include the swimwear and evening gown segment will transpire on January 21 (22nd in Manila) and whittle down the 88 delegates to top 15 finalists to battle it out come finals night of the Miss Universe pageant on January 25 Sunday in Doral, Miami. Today will be the one-on-one interview which is the other 50% of the preliminary grades and at this stage, predictions are floating around the net as to who will be making the cut.

Let’s me just share a wee bit of my list here which I grouped into 3 with five delegate each

The Frontrunners

[L-R] Philippines, Colombia, Serbia, USA, Venezuela

The Dark Horses

[L-R] Australia, Indonesia, Jamaica, India, Guyana

Bubbling Under

[L-R] Mexico, Spain, Russia, Brazil, Poland

Do we have the same Top 15 “pre” Preliminary Competition?

The Preliminary competition will be streamed LIVE on MissUniverse.com at 7pm ET, the Preliminary Competition features all 88 contestants in swimwear and evening gown.